Ukraine president orders full military mobilisation as Russian forces capture Chernobyl
- Ukrainian president says conscripts and reservists will be called up as Russian forces attack on numerous fronts
- China says it ‘understands Russia’s legitimate security concerns’ and calls for dialogue to resolve the situation
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ordered a full military mobilisation as he lamented his country had been left on its own to fight off an invasion by Russian forces.
“We have been left alone to defend our state,” Zelensky said in a video address early Friday Hong Kong time.
“Who is ready to fight alongside us? I don’t see anyone. Who is ready to give Ukraine a guarantee of Nato membership? Everyone is afraid,” he added.
There were more than 392 bombings by Russian forces on Thursday, Ukrainian officials said.
Ukrainian officials confirmed that Russian forces had seized the closed Chernobyl nuclear power plant near the abandoned city of Pripyat, which Zelensky called “a declaration of war” against Europe.
Western leaders scrambled to prepare biting new sanctions on Moscow after reports of battles and rocket fire around the Ukrainian cities of Kharkiv and Mariupol and the Black Sea port of Odessa.
Read on for updates as events develop.
Canada accelerates Ukrainians’ visa applications
Canada is prioritising immigration applications from Ukrainians and is setting up a hotline to deal with inquiries, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Thursday.
Trudeau said his government was also arranging safe passage for Canadian citizens and permanent residents at Ukraine’s non-Russian land borders and was urgently issuing travel documents.
“Canada’s message to the people of Ukraine is this: you are not alone,” Trudeau said.
More than 1.3 million Canadians claim Ukrainian heritage, according to census data. They make up the world’s third largest ethnic Ukrainian community behind those of Ukraine itself and Russia.
Modi appeals for ‘cessation of violence’ in call with Putin
Modi “reiterated his long-standing conviction that the differences between Russia and [Nato] can only be resolved through honest and sincere dialogue” and “called for concerted efforts from all sides to return to the path of diplomatic negotiations and dialogue”, his office said on Thursday.
He also “sensitised the Russian president” about Indian citizens in Ukraine – students, in particular – calling their safe exit and return to India a top priority.
‘Putin chose this war,’ Biden says
“Putin is the aggressor. Putin chose this war and now he and his country will bear the consequences,” Biden said in his first public remarks since the invasion began.
“Putin’s aggression against Ukraine will end up costing Russia dearly, economically and strategically. We will make sure that Putin will be a pariah on the international stage.”
G7 members condemn ‘completely unjustified attack’
The Group of Seven (G7) has condemned the “military aggression” by Russia and Belarus against Ukraine, calling the assaults directed by Moscow the re-introduction of war in Europe.
“This unprovoked and completely unjustified attack on the democratic state of Ukraine was preceded by fabricated claims and unfounded allegations,” the bloc said in a statement. “This has fundamentally changed the Euro-Atlantic security situation. President Putin has re-introduced war to the European continent. He has put himself on the wrong side of history.”
The G7 members – Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the US – said they would coordinate with global energy suppliers to maintain stability in the energy markets “and stand ready to act as needed to address potential disruptions”.
Putin’s former son-in-law hit with sanctions
Targets of a sweeping sanctions package announced by the British government on Thursday include five members of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s inner circle, the foreign office said. Among them is Kirill Shamalov, Putin’s former son-in-law and Russia’s youngest billionaire, and Yury Slyusar, director of United Aircraft Corp, a major aircraft supplier for the Russian military.
Also sanctioned were Uralvagonzavod, one of the world’s biggest tank makers, Tactical Missile Corporation, a major missile supplier, and Rostec, Russia’s largest defence company.
Designed by the British government to “devastate Russia’s economy”, the measures include new banking restrictions preventing all Russians from storing significant savings in British accounts, a ban on Russian companies borrowing on UK markets, and an asset freeze on all Russian banks.
Boris Johnson outlines British measures against Russia
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson laid out further punitive steps Britain is taking against Russia after its invasion of Ukraine, including an asset freeze on Russia’s state-owned VTB bank carried out in coordination with the United States.
In total, Britain will freeze assets of more than 100 new entities and individuals, Johnson said in an address Thursday to the House of Commons. His government will also ban the export of dual-use items to Russia; block Russia’s flag-carrier, Aeroflot, from flying into Britain; and sanction Moscow’s ally Belarus for its role in the attack.
The tougher sanctions package came two days after the prime minister was criticised over a much smaller package of sanctions and asset freezes, with MPs in his own party calling for harsher measures immediately.
The Home Office also announced it would temporarily extend visas for Ukrainians who are on “work, study or visit visas”.
“We have a clear mission: diplomatically, politically, economically, and eventually militarily, this hideous and barbarous venture of Vladimir Putin must end in failure,” said Johnson.
He said that it was now evident that Putin had intended to invade Ukraine all along, despite efforts by Britain and others to pursue a diplomatic solution, and called the Russian leader a “bloodstained aggressor who believes in imperial conquest”.
“Putin will stand condemned in the eyes of the world and history,” said Johnson. “He will never be able to cleanse the blood of Ukraine from his hands.”
Nato leaders will meet on Friday to discuss the crisis, Johnson said.
Earlier on Thursday, British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss summoned the Russian ambassador to Britain, Andrey Kelin, to notify him that Russia should expect a “long, protracted conflict that would inflict a huge human, economic and political cost on the Russian government”, according to a readout of the meeting.
EU looks to suspend Russian visa scheme
A suspension of the EU’s visa facilitation scheme for Russian citizens will be on the table at tonight’s meeting of the European Council. A senior EU source confirmed that leaders will discuss freezing the issuances of new visas, alongside broader sectoral sanctions.
The sectors in question include finance, energy, and transport. The EU will seek to stop Russian state-owned companies from raising money on European capital market, while it is also looking to implement export bans and controls on certain products.
With Russian troops currently stationed in Belarus and reports of rockets being launched at Ukrainian targets from the Russian ally, the official hinted that further sanctions on Minsk could also be in the offing.
00:43
Ukraine crisis: Russians shell apartment building in Chuhuiv
They confirmed that the EU is in talks with major energy exporters, including the US, Qatar, Algeria and Norway, as well as East Asian countries with large holdings of natural gas imports, in a bid to reduce its reliance on Russian energy.
Meanwhile, it is rated as unlikely that Russian banks will be kicked off Swift, the international financial transaction network that powers much of global banking, at least not today.
Russian forces capture Chernobyl
“After the absolutely senseless attack of the Russians in this direction, it is impossible to say that the Chernobyl nuclear power plant is safe,” said Mykhailo Podolyak, adviser to the chief of the presidential administration.
Podolyak’s confirmation followed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s announcement on Twitter that Russian forces were trying to seize the former nuclear reactor at Chernobyl, where an explosion in 1986 led to radioactive contamination in many parts of Europe.
The Ukrainian leader said via Twitter that “defenders are giving their lives so that the tragedy of 1986 will not be repeated” and that the move was “a declaration of war against the whole of Europe”.
The 1986 accident at Chernobyl, about 130km (80 miles) north of Ukraine’s capital Kyiv, was “the product of a flawed Soviet reactor design coupled with serious mistakes made by the plant operators” and “a direct consequence of Cold War isolation and the resulting lack of any safety culture”, according to the World Nuclear Association.
The accident caused “the largest uncontrolled radioactive release into the environment ever recorded for any civilian operation”, according to the association.
The destroyed reactor is enclosed within a hermetically sealed structure
Russia reports 70 targets destroyed
Russia said Thursday that its had destroyed more than 70 targets including 11 airfields in Ukraine,” according to the Agence France-Press news agency.
As a result of strikes carried out by the Russian armed forces, 74 Ukrainian ground facilities were destroyed,” said Igor Konashenkov, a defence ministry spokesman, specifying that destroyed facilities included 11 airfields. He said a Ukrainian helicopter and four drones had also been shot down.
EU signals export controls on way
In a press conference with Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hinted that export controls will be deployed to block off Russian access to key technology, “from hi-tech components to cutting-edge software”.
“Our measures will weaken Russia’s technological position in key areas actually, from which the elite makes most of their money,” she said, before a virtual meeting of the G7.
Boris Johnson: sanctions will ‘hobble’ Russia
Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed there would be a joint sanctioning effort by allied partners, saying the Russian invasion of Ukraine was “our worst fears come true”.
“Today in concert with our allies we will agree a massive package of economic sanctions designed in time to hobble the Russian economy, and to that end we must also collectively cease the dependence on Russian oil and gas that for too long has given [Vladimir] Putin his grip on Western politics.”
03:49
Russia begins attack on Ukraine as US and Nato vow response
Ukrainian leader creating ‘anti-Putin alliance’
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky took to Twitter to say he was “creating an anti-Putin coalition” following conversations with von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Zelensky said he was seeking “concrete sanctions and concrete assistance for our. We are waiting for decisive action”.
Macron, who made multiple attempts to defuse the situation with Putin, said the Russian president is “going back on his word
“In refusing the path of diplomacy, in choosing war, President Putin has not only attacked Ukraine, he has decided to flout its sovereignty.”
Russia accuses West of turning blind eye to ‘genocide’ in eastern Ukraine
Sport considers links with Russian state
German football club Schalke 04 said Thursday it would remove Russian gas company Gazprom as its main shirt sponsor, AFP reported.
Meanwhile UEFA, the governing body of European football, will move the Champions League final away from Russia’s second city, St Petersburg, the BBC reported. The match was slated for the Gazprom Arena in St Petersburg on May 28.
Chinese embassy’s safety warning
The Chinese embassy in Kyiv has urged the roughly 6,000 Chinese citizens in Ukraine to “take corresponding preventive measures to protect their own safety”.
Its note said that “the security situation in Ukraine has entered a very tense stage”, reporting explosions and shooting “in some areas”, but stopped short of advising citizens to leave.
“At present, Ukraine has declared a state of war throughout the country,” read the statement.
Foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying refused to acknowledge that Russia had invaded Ukraine.
Beijing lifts all wheat-import restrictions on Russia amid Ukraine crisis
Moscow on defensive, bolstered by China
The Chinese foreign minster Wang Yi said via state media that he “understands Russia’s legitimate concerns on security issues” after talking to his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.
Lavrov said Russia “was forced to take necessary measures” to protect its own rights after “the United States and Nato have broken their commitments, continued to expand eastward, refused to implement the New Minsk Agreement, and violated UN Security Council Resolution 2202”.
“China advocates that the cold war mentality should be completely abandoned, and a balanced, effective and sustainable European security mechanism should be finally formed through dialogue and negotiation,” Wang said.
04:07
Ukraine, Russian envoys in tense exchange at UN Security Council emergency meeting
There has been much speculation as to how much tacit backing China will offer Russia. Earlier this week, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said she “made clear to China … we cannot have normal relations if they are ignoring what is going on in Europe”.
Meanwhile, an editorial in the state-owned tabloid Global Times said in an editorial “the US could be the only partu that stands to benefit” from the situation, suggesting it was a ruse to increase its share of the European energy market.
“Not only will it no longer have to worry about the operation of the Nord Stream 2 [the pipeline axed by Germany] which would squeeze the market space of US LNG in European market, but it will also be able to gain an even bigger market share for its LNG that is priced at 20 to 30 per cent higher compared with Russia’s natural gas,” the article said.
Russia’s attack on Ukraine has shocked the world. These graphics show the latest events
EU vows ‘massive and targeted sanctions’
Von der Leyen said the EU will join the US, Britain, Canada, Japan and Australia in “a package of massive and targeted sanctions” later today.
“With this package, we will target strategic sectors of the Russian economy by blocking their access to technologies and markets that are key for Russia,” she says. “We will weaken Russia’s economic base and its capacity to modernise.
“And in addition, we will freeze Russian assets in the European Union and stop the access of Russian banks to European financial markets.”
The EU also summoned the Russian ambassador in Brussels, Vladimir Chizhov. Stefano Sannino, the secretary general of the bloc’s foreign affairs arm, “conveyed the EU’s strongest condemnation of the unprovoked, unjustified invasion of Ukraine by armed forces of the Russian Federation and the demand to Russian President Vladimir Putin to cease operations immediately”, an EU statement said.
He informed Chizhov that “a new, hard-hitting package of restrictive measures” were on their way.
01:19
Ukrainian city of Kharkiv wakes up to the sound of explosions
Ex-German chancellor and friend of Putin speaks up
Gerhard Schröder, the ex-German Chancellor who has for years courted controversy through his friendship with Vladimir Putin and lobbying for Russian energy giant Rosneft, criticised Moscow.
In a LinkedIn post, Schröder said “the war and the associated suffering for the people of Ukraine must be ended as soon as possible. That is the responsibility of the Russian government.”
He did not say if he would give up his post as chairman of Rosneft or on the board of Nord Stream, but said: “With a view to the future, care must now be taken in the event of necessary sanctions not to completely cut off the remaining political, economic and civil society links that exist between Europe and Russia.”
Putin says attack is to protect civilians
Putin said in a televised address that the attack was needed to protect civilians in eastern Ukraine. This was previously flagged by the United States as a potential pretext for an invasion.
European leaders will meet in Brussels on Thursday evening, when they are expected to approve the second package of punitive measures against Moscow this week.
Putin is successfully ‘playing the China card’ against the US, analysts say
On Tuesday, Russian banks, oligarchs, lawmakers and officials were slapped with travel bans and asset freezes. Officials from Central and Eastern Europe pushed for the EU to go even further.
Foreign ministers from the three Baltic nations, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, called for Russian banks to be excluded from Swift, the global transaction network.
“All of us in the whole international community need to condemn it in the strongest possible way, to impose the strongest possible sanctions on Russia, including disengaging Russia from Swift,” a joint statement read.
Reuters reported that Swift was unlikely to be included in Thursday’s tranche of sanctions, quoting an EU diplomat as saying that “urgency and consensus is the utmost priority”. Such a move would spark huge financial disruption in Europe.
02:39
Fear looms over Ukraine’s capital Kyiv amid Russia’s ‘special military operation’
Vera Jourova, the European Commission’s vice-president for transparency and values, told Czech media that “Vladimir Putin should be the first one on the list” of sanctioned individuals.
US President Joe Biden last week warned that in the event of an invasion, the US would unleash the “mother of all sanctions”, without specifying the details.
Earlier, China called for a peaceful resolution to the crisis at the UN Security Council, while stopping short of condemning the Russian actions.
Foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua laid the blame at the feet of the West during a press conference in Beijing on Thursday.
Asked whether China would back Russia in the conflict, Hua said “Russia makes all its decisions independently, and doesn’t need clearance from China”.
She said Nato “still owes China a blood debt” for the 1999 bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade, which Nato said was accidental.
